Search

TRIEC recognizes special volunteer achievements of Toronto Region individuals and the corporate sector: Over 6,000 skilled immigrants mentored through The Mentoring Partnership

TORONTO, Nov. 17, 2011 /CNW/ - Toronto Region Immigrant Employment
Council (TRIEC) today recognizes outstanding volunteer contributions to
its award-winning program, The Mentoring Partnership, facilitating the
mentorship of over 6,000 skilled immigrants. Volunteers will be
highlighted this afternoon at 4PM at The Mentoring Partnership's Annual
Partners Conference and Volunteer Recognition Reception at Manulife
Financial. The event is funded by the Governments of Canada and
Ontario, and sponsored by Manulife Financial.

"Manulife is proud to be a long-time funder of the program," says Kathy
Lockwood, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Corporate & Investment
Divisions, Manulife Financial. "The Mentoring Partnership plays a key
role in getting skilled immigrants into good jobs sooner, providing
healthier economic and social conditions for us all."

"Over 6,000 skilled immigrants have been mentored since The Mentoring
Partnership program was launched in 2004 and 70 per cent have found
employment in their field," says Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director,
TRIEC. "This program thrives because individuals volunteer their time
as mentors. Today we thank all our mentor volunteers, and celebrate
outstanding individuals and leadership in mentoring."

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MENTORING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Leadership in mentor recruitment
This year corporate partner CIBC has reached the milestone of having
contributed 100 mentoring matches to the program. "CIBC is proud to
play a role in helping newcomers to Canada establish a strong new start
through mentoring relationships," says Sharon Wingfelder, Vice
President, Human Resources, Diversity & Resourcing, CIBC. "Mentoring
also benefits our employees who gain a better understanding of the
newcomer experience while making a real difference in the community."

CIBC joins the ranks of corporate partners recognized last year for
being leaders in mentor recruitment: TD Bank Financial Group, City of
Toronto, Deloitte, KMPG and Scotiabank.

The Mentoring Partnership program relies on the commitment of corporate
partners to engage employees/members to become mentors, market The
Mentoring Partnership internally, and host orientation events for their
mentors and mentees. Staff from corporate partners have accounted for
65 per cent of mentoring matches in the program. The other 35 per cent
of matches come from individual mentors not employed by corporate
partners.

Active corporate partners in 2010-2011

Centennial College

Certified General Accountants of Ontario

CGI

Deloitte

Ernst & Young LLP

Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP

Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

ING DIRECT

KPMG LLP

Mackenzie Investments

Manulife Financial

Mount Sinai Hospital

Ontario Power Generation

PepsiCo Canada

CIBC

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

City of Toronto

City of Vaughan

RBC

Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology

Scotiabank

St. Michael's Hospital

Stikeman Elliott LLP

TD Bank Group

Toronto Public Library

Tetra Tech

Mentors who have mentored 10 or more skilled immigrants
Mentors say they gain as much as they give by mentoring skilled
immigrants. The fact that 30 per cent of mentors return to mentor again
proves it.

"Mentoring provides real professional development," says Joe Ferreyro,
Associate Manager, Sun Life Financial. "You learn about other cultures
and get to interact with many types of people. I do a lot of mentoring
on the job, so I can apply what I learn to my daily activities of
coaching new hires. More importantly, I am paying it forward because I
remember what it was like when I immigrated."

Joe is one of 14 mentors who have gone above and beyond to mentor 10 or
more skilled immigrants. Over half of the mentors being recognized for
reaching this milestone are employees of the City of Toronto.

Mentees who have become mentors
The Mentoring Partnership has noticed a new trend: After establishing
their careers in Canada, former mentees are volunteering as mentors -
all wanting to repay the advice and encouragement they received.

"Mentoring is meaningful for me because I can share what I have
experienced with other skilled immigrants," says Taofeeq Olatinwo,
former mentee and Senior Manager of SAP at Hewlett-Packard. "My mentor
explained Canadian culture and the workplace. I believe this insight
has been essential in helping me integrate in all the jobs I've had
since."

Taofeeq is one of 13 former mentees being recognized for returning to
the program to become mentors. The mentors originate from countries
including Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

About The Mentoring Partnership Program:
The Mentoring Partnership is a collaboration of corporate and community
partners, and operates as a program of TRIEC. TRIEC creates and
champions solutions to better integrate skilled immigrants in the
Greater Toronto Region labour market. Funding for The Mentoring
Partnership is provided by the Governments of Canada and Ontario,
Manulife Financial and Maytree.